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The shield of his mighty men is made red. The valiant men are in scarlet. The chariots flash with steel in the day of his preparation, and the pine spears are brandished. The chariots rage in the streets. They rush back and forth in the wide ways. Their appearance is like torches. They run like the lightnings. He summons his picked troops. They stumble on their way. They dash to its wall, and the protective shield is put in place. The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved. It is decreed: she is uncovered, she is carried away; and her servants moan as with the voice of doves, beating on their breasts. But Nineveh has been from of old like a pool of water, yet they flee away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one looks back. Take the plunder of silver. Take the plunder of gold, for there is no end of the store, the glory of all goodly furniture. 10 She is empty, void, and waste. The heart melts, the knees knock together, their bodies and faces have grown pale.

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The shields of his[a] warriors are dyed red;
the valiant men are dressed in scarlet.(A)
The fittings of the chariot flash like fire(B)
on the day of its battle preparations,
and the spears are brandished.
The chariots dash madly through the streets;
they rush around in the plazas.
They look like torches;
they dart back and forth like lightning.
He gives orders to his officers;
they stumble as they advance.
They race to its wall;
the protective shield is set in place.
The river gates are opened,
and the palace erodes away.(C)

Beauty[b] is stripped;[c]
she is carried away;
her ladies-in-waiting moan
like the sound of doves(D)
and beat their breasts.(E)
Nineveh has been like a pool of water
from her first days,[d]
but they are fleeing.
“Stop! Stop!” they cry,
but no one turns back.
“Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” (F)
There is no end to the treasure,
an abundance of every precious thing.(G)
10 Desolation, decimation, devastation!
Hearts melt,(H)
knees tremble,(I)
insides churn,(J)
every face grows pale!(K)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:3 = the army commander attacking Nineveh
  2. 2:7 Text emended; MT reads Huzzab
  3. 2:7 Hb obscure
  4. 2:8 Hb obscure